Hackensack official won't return to second job, citing "hostile" environment

HACKENSACK — Anthony Rottino, who was replaced last week as the city's interim manager, told officials Monday that he won't return to his other city job as director of economic development, according to an email sent by his attorney.

The council voted to replace Rottino as interim manager on Thursday, three days after he filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the city alleging that top officials spread rumors about him and created a hostile work environment because he took a stand against raising police salaries and opposed them on several other issues.

Rottino's attorney, Neil Mullin, said in an email to the new interim manager, Art Koster, that the council "has made it impossible for [Rottino] to safely return" to his position as director of economic development, which he has held since last August and retained while also serving as city manager.

Last week, Mullin said Rottino is on sick leave but intended to return to his job as director of economic development. On Monday, Mullin said that Rottino has not resigned from either of his city jobs but that it would be "dangerous" for him to return to work because of threats that he says were made against him.

On Friday, Koster sent Rottino an email saying a "work space" has been set up for him at a 2 1/2-story house on East Railroad Avenue that serves as the city's Building, Housing and Land Use Office. Rottino worked at that location as director of economic development before he took on the additional job of interim city manager in December, Koster said in the email.

Mullin responded to Koster by writing that the council has "in effect" terminated his client "notwithstanding the pretense that he is welcome to return."

"We will seek our remedies in court and through other appropriate legal authorities," Mullin wrote.

Koster did not return a message seeking comment on Monday, and other city officials either did not respond to messages or declined to comment.

The council said in a resolution last week that Rottino had taken a legal position that "he is no longer the interim city manager" by alleging in his lawsuit that he was constructively discharged from that job — a legal term referring to intolerable working conditions that amount to a firing.

Mullin said in Monday's email that the council "was required by law" to investigate his client's allegations. He said that so far no one from the city has called to interview Rottino about the allegations. Rottino has been told that city employees have been instructed not to speak to him, Mullin said.

Mayor John Labrosse and city attorney Thomas Scrivo also did not respond to messages seeking comment Monday night. Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino said she could not comment on the matter because of the lawsuit.